Strasbourg (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – President Metsola awarded the 2024 Sakharov Prize to Edmundo González Urrutia and María Corina Machado for their brave defence of democracy in Venezuela.
President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola awarded the Sakharov Prize 2024 to Venezuela’s Edmundo González Urrutia and María Corina Machado at an event held on 17 Dec 2024 in Strasbourg.
Unlocking the award ceremony of the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought 2024, President Metsola stated: “In their quest for justice, democracy and the rule of law, Edmundo González Urrutia and María Corina Machado are bravely defending values that millions of Venezuelans and the European Parliament hold so dear. This recognition is not just a recognition but also a reminder that the fight for freedom is never useless. The destiny of Venezuela belongs to its people and the European Parliament stands proudly with them.”
Addressing MEPs, Mr González Urrutia expressed:
“Sooner rather than later, our nation will take a turn in a direction specified by our people. The abuse and brutality of these days is just a clumsy endeavour to delay what is unavoidable.”
In a resolution approved on 19 September 2024, the European Parliament acknowledged Mr González Urrutia as the right and democratically elected President of Venezuela and María Corina Machado as the head of the country’s democratic forces. MEPs also expressed international election compliance mission reports pushed it clear that the Venezuelan presidential election did not concede with international norms of electoral integrity.
